Ribbon-shifting mechanism for adding or like machines



June 16, 1925.

B. P. HAYES RIBB ON SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR ADDING OR LIKE MACHINES Original Filed Feb. 27, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 16, 1925. B. P. HAYES RIBBON smrrme MECHANISM FOR ADDING OR LIKE MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Original Filed Feb. 27, 1920 Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

BENJAMIN P, HAYES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI,

Original application filed To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN P. HAYEs,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and 8 State of Missouri, have invented certain new ivi and useful Improvements in Ribbon-Shifting Mechanism for Adding or like Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and'to the figures of reference marked-thereon, which form a part of this specification.

desired, a total of the entered amounts may be taken by a reverse operation, whereby the accumulation indicated on the register wheels is printed on the strip. In order to distinguish the total from the individual amounts, it is desirable to enter the total in a different color from that in which the individual amounts are printed This may be accomplished through the use of a multicolored ribbon, and it is the ob'ect of the present invention to shift the ri bon prior to the taking of the total, in order that the total may show in a distinguishing color.

In accomplishing this object, I have provided improved detailsof construction, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my ribbon shifting mechanism, illustrated .in connection with parts of an adding machine with which the shifting mechanism is assembled, and upon which it depends for its operation.

Fig. 2 is a detail, side elevation of the rib bon shift bar, illustratin its relation tothe adding machine crank s aft and total key, and including the latch for retaining the abutments for effecting movement 05 registered on number' RIBBON-SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR ADDING 0R LIKE MACHINES.

February 27, 1920, Serial No. 361,743. Divided and this application filed July 11, 1921, Serial No. 483,833.

Renewed May 8, 1925.

ribbon in shifted position while the total is mal or non-shifted position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same parts in shifted position, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical section of a part of the total key frame, illustratin the the shift bar.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

1 designates the enclosing frame of an adding machine, and 23 the plates of a sub-frame upon which the record strip and part of the printing mechanism are mounted, the plates 23 having extension arms 4-45 rotatably supporting a platen 6, and having slots 7 at their upper ends, within which a shaft 8 is slidably mounted. On the shaft 8 are rollers 9 which are held toward the platen 6 by springs 10 that engage the ends of the shaft 8 and are hooked over pins 11 of the arms 45 to yieldingly urge the rollers toward the platen and retain the record strip 12 snuglythereagainst, to form a smooth printing surface. The record strip 12 may be carried upon any suitable bracket, supported from the adding machine, but as this mounting forms no part of the present invention, it has not been illustrated in de tail. Rotatably mounted on platforms, 14-15 are ribbon drums 1617, upon which an inked ribbon 18 is wound, the ribbon being of the ordinary multi-colored type, having a black section 19 at the top and a red section 20 at the bottom. The inked ribbon is preferably run over guide rolls 2121 at opposite ends of the platen to extend the ribbon straight across the platen, and which are spaced apart sufliciently to permit vertical shifting movement of the ribbon without displacement from the guide rolls or drums. Extending transversely across the machine at the bottom of the sub-frame is a bar 22, and pivotally mounted on said bar is a lever 23 which extends through vertical slots 24 inthe sub-frame plates 2-3, and is provided with an aperture 25. The lever 23 has a depending ear 26 at one end pivotally attached to the bar 22 by a stud 26', the aperture 25 being located at the opposite end of the lever'in order to provide an easy leverage for the limited shifting movement necessary for moving the inked ribbon from one printing position to the other. Pivotally mounted on the bar 23 by a stud 27 is a yoke 28, the arms 29 of which have slotted upper ends 30 through which the inked ribbon 13 extends, so that when the lever is rocked on its pivot, the yoke arms are raised or lowered and carry the ribbon with them to shift its position vertically, relatively to the platen and the type mechanism that is provided to cooperate therewith. The shifting parts describee are located at the rear end of the adding machine, and positioned forwardly thereof is a total key post 32, adapted to slide in a slot 33 in the hrizontal portion of the guide plate 35, which is carried on the plate 1 of the main machine through connection of the horizontal member with the frame, and by a stud 36 connecting the plate and frame at the lower end of the plate. The lower end of the plate has a slot 37, in which is slidably mounted a stud 38 having an inner head 39 enefageable by a pin l0 on the total key post. ihe lower end of the key post is also provided with a slot through which the stud 36 projects to guide the key post in its vertical movement. The total key post is normally retained in elevated position by spring: l-l connecting a hook 412 on the lower end of the post with a stud 4.3 on the guide plate 35. Pivotally mounted on the is one end of a shift bar 4:5, of elbow construction, the rear body portion of which is inc ned and overlies a stud ie on a wing rigidly mounted on the crank shaft o the adding; machine. The rear portion lil oi the shift bar e5 extends horizontally and t 'itcs in a nose 50. adapted for pro into the aperture in the yoke shift lever s3, but is normally spaced therefrom so that it will not engage the lever unless the ha r is projected forwardly by maniputhe total key post. Vith the ar- 'e neut described, the shift bar positioned upon operation of the key post and the bar moved upon operation of the. crank shaft to lift the ribbon shifting;- ine:-hanism and raise the red portion of the inked ribbon into printing position. ln order to retain the parts in this shifted. position dura printing operationl provide a latch, comprising an arm 51, pivotally mounted on a stud on the frame of the addii machine. and having a vertical slot 53 of"- set at the upper end of the arm to form a seat Fr-l for receiving: a stud on the shit bar, that is adapted for travel in the slot when the bar is moved vertically. The shift bar is normally retained in inoperative position by a spring 56, connected with the stud and with an eye 57, on a cross bar 58 extending transversely between the main frame plates 1. The latch arm 51 is normally yieldinely held in position for seating; the stud 5;) in the seat by a spring 60 connected with a pin 61 on the latch and with a pin 62 on a pivotally suspended cam 63, which has a function in the adding ma chine proper, but has no part in the operation of the shifting mechanism except to form an anchor for the spring (St). Pivota ly mounted on the stud at), whereby the shift bar is elevated, is a link (Si that sup-- ported and guided on the pin 62 of the sus pended. cam es, and is adapted for abutment against. the pin 6.1. on the latch arm 51, so that when the crank shaft is returned to complete its reciprocatory movement, the link may abut against the latch arm pin and shift the latch arm to unseat the stud 55 on the shift bar and permit the return of the bar and the riboon yoke so that the black portion of ribbon is again presented to printing position. 7 Assuming: the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, the operation is follows: Ordinarily, the ribbon yoke is its lower position, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that the black portion of the ribbon is in printing position and the shift bar is held by the spri downwardly an d re a rwa rd 1 y 7-6 so that when the crank shaft is operated, the rear end of the shift bar moves up and down idly, relatively to the yoke lever. .Yhen a total is to be taken, the total key post moved downwardly, Slliftlllff the bar rearwardly so that its nose projects into the aperture in the yoke, the total key post heine; held in lowered position by any suit able merhanis n or latch construction, (not sh will. li'ht-n the shift bar is positioned. OpQl'fltlUIl of the crank shaft: causes the stud ill on the. wing: T7 to engage the under ed l'e o the bar and lift the bar. The nose of the bar. in 'ei'igrae'ement with the yoke lever,

the latter and the ribbon is shifted to 1e red portion thereof to printing 1. i the shift bar elevated. its on travels in the slot in the latch arm and when the stud reaches the top of the arm, the arm mo ed forwardly to seat the stud so that the shift bar held in elevated position, and in turn retains the rib hon y z '2 red portion of the rihbon p no position. The parts are all re a -fail ii a complete operation of the but as the shaft nines its normal posniou. the end of the k (Bl abuts against the pin (ll on the latch arm and moves the arm rearwardly to unseat the shift bar stud, so that the shift b may be drawn back to normal position, thereby releasing the ribbon yoke so that the latter may drop back and return the black portion of the ribbon to printing position.

It is apparent. therefore. that while the ribbon shifting mechanism operated from the crank shaft of the main machine, it does not perform its function except for total taking in that its movement is idle except when the controlling: shift bar is set by the total key and it is further apparent that the ribbon is automatically returned after a single operation of the crank shaft to insure the printing of a successive individual amount in the distinguishing normal color.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a total key and a main actuator, a ribbon guide, and means, normally disconnected from the ribbon guide, settable by the total key and operable by the actuator to shift the ribbon guide. g

2. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a total key and a main actuator, a ribbon guide, means, normally disconnected from the ribbon guide, settable by the total key and operable by the actuator to shift the ribbon guide, and a latch for retaining said shifting means in functional position and operable by the main actuator to release the shifting means.

Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a main actuator and a total key, a ribbon guide, and a shift bar, settable by the total key and operable by the main actuator, normally disconnected from but engageable with the ribbon guide to shift the guide.

4. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a ribbon guide, a shift bar normally disconnected from the guide, means for setting the shift bar to co-operative relation with the guide, and a main actuator for effecting movement of the shift bar.

5. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a ribbon guide, a shift bar normally disconnected from the guide, means for setting the shift bar to co-operative relation with the guide,'a main actuator for effecting movement of the shift bar, a latch for retaining the shift bar in set position, and means operable by the main actuator to shift the latch and release the shift bar.

6. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a total key and main actuator, the actuator comprising a crank having a laterally projecting stud, a ribbon guide, a shift bar engageable with the ribbon guide and hearing on the stud, the total key serving as a fulcrum for the bar when the bar is actuated from the main actuator.

7. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a total key and crank shaft, a pivoted lever, a yoke on said lever adapted for engaginga printing ribbon, a normally idle shift bar operable by the total key for effecting its connection with the lever, and means an the crank shaft for operating the shift 8. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a total key and crank shaft, the crank shaft having a wing and the wing having a laterally directed stud, a ribbon guide, a shift bar overlying the wing stud and normally yieldingly retained in engagement therewith, the shift bar operable by the total key against the tension of its yielding means for effecting co-operative relation of the bar with the ribbon guide, and a latch for retaining the shift bar in functional position.

9. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combination with a total key and crank shaft, the crank shaft having a wing and the wing having a laterally directed stud, a ribbon guide, a shift bar overlying the wing stud and normally yieldingly retained in engagement therewith, the shift bar operable by the total key against the tension of its yielding means for effecting co-operative relation of the bar with the ribbon guide, a latch for retaining the shift bar in functional position, and means operable from the crank shaft for shifting the latch. to release the shift bar.

10. Ribbon shifting mechanism for adding or like machines comprising, in combina tion a pivoted lever, a yoke pivoted to said lever and adapted for engaging a printing ribbon, a floating shift bar yieldingly re tained in non-functional position, a total key for moving the bar to functional position, a crank shaft having means engageable With the bar to rock the same, a latch engageable with the bar to retain the parts in shifted position, and means operable from the crank shaft for shifting the latch to permit return of the shift bar and separation thereof from the ribbon guide.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BENJAMIN P. HAYES. 

